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LESSON 133.- Hints,

371. From the following Hints, which are given in regular succession, produce a Description, developed and expressed as nearly as possible in accordance with the rule:

372. A THUNDER STORM.

1. When stormy cloud or collection of vapours highly electrified approaches high building or a cloud not electrified, that electric spark escapes from it, explosion takes place, called clap of thunder; and the vivid light is lightning. 2. Sometimes only see sudden momentary flash; at other times train of fire shoots through heavens forked zigzag. 3. The explosion which accompanies lightning demonstrates vapours occasions thunder, becoming ignited, violently agitate and expand the air; with emission of electric spark explosion heard, thunder sometimes composed of several claps, or prolonged multiplied by echo.

4. Generally interval of time between lightning and thunder-clap, and this enables us judge degree nearness danger; for sound requires time reach ear, while, light passes rapidly that, traveling same space, strikes upon organs vision much sooner. 5. As soon see a flash of lightning, count seconds intervene before thunder; or, if not a watch, count times pulse beats between clap flash; if reckon ten, certain thunder distant quarter of a league; for 40 pulsations felt whilst sound. -travels space of one league.

6. Lightning not always proceed in right line from above downwards, but often in serpentine or zigzag direction, sometimes does not flash till near ground. 7. Electric matter which reaches earth or takes fire near it never fails strike; but not always force enough reach us, and, like ill-charged bomb, spent in air without injury; but when combustible vapours reach ground often occasion damage. 8. Course of lightning

singular uncertain, depends direction of wind, quantity of exhalations, and other causes. 9. Passes meets combustible matter, as when gunpowder lighted flame runs along course of train, firing everything in way.

10. May judge force of lightning by effects produces: such ardency of flame that consumes combustible bodies; melts metals, often spares substances contained in them when porous to admit free passage through. 11. Owing to amazing velocity of lightning that bones of animals sometimes calcined without flesh injured; strongest buildings thrown down, trees torn up, cleft, thickest walls overturned, stones rocks broken reduced to powder. 12. To sudden rarefaction and violent agitation of air, produced by intense heat and velocity of lightning, may attributed death of animals found suffocated without appearance of struck by lightning.

LESSON 134.

373. OPERATIONS OF NATURE.

Requisites.-1. Patient Observation and cautious Discrimination will be necessary for noticing with accuracy the various stages or processes observed by nature in her operations. 2. All hasty inductions or imperfect classification must be carefully avoided. 3. Have one main point of inquiry and steadily keep this in view throughout.

374. In detailing the result of your investigation or inquiry, adhere to the order in which the operations occurred, noticing the appearances and effects of each successive stage. Occasional reflections may be interspersed tending to render the subject interesting, or to elucidate some important fact.

Memoriter Exercise.

375. 1. Read the following Extract two or three times over, noticing the sequence of the sentences. 2. Reproduce the Example from recollection.

3. Institute a Comparison between your own and the original, when all deviations either in construction, punctuation, or sequence must be noticed.

376. MODEL. - MAY.

1. The month of May is generally considered the most pleasing period of the year, as the whole earth, should March and April have been favourable, is one uniform picture of bloom and beauty, and covered with the richest herbage.

2. In this month, trees get into full foliage. First, we see the willow cover itself with slender leaves; then the silvery poplar, and then the moisture-loving alder. These are the earliest of our trees that appear in leaf. The lime, the sycamore, and the beautiful fan-like leaves of the horse-chestnut, follow; and shortly after, the oak, the ash, the beech, and the walnut. This is all that was wanting to complete the spring landscape. Trees, when in full leaf, are most beautiful objects, and always excite admiration. Their different colours, their variety of shape, the dancing of their leaves, their very murmur, and the shade which they afford, are all in keeping with the season.

3. In May, also, most of our trees flower or blossom. In the fields the eye is delighted wherever it falls, by something full of beauty. We see the splendid tapering flowers of the horse-chestnut, rising like a series of miniature pyramids above its noble mass of foliage; the pendant bunches of blossom of the sycamore, smelling so sweetly, and alive with bees and other insects; the graceful laburnum, hanging its beautiful flower

wreaths like so many golden chaplets; the guelder rose, covered by circular bunches of snow-white blossoms; the lilac, one of the greatest ornaments of our shrubberies, loaded with its cones of flowerets full of the sweetest fragrance; and many others equally beautiful.

4. One of the most splendid objects in May, however, is the orchard. It is now that the apple-trees are loaded with their delicate blossom, which is by far the most attractive of all bloom. It is not possible to imagine any prospect more charming than that which we meet with at every step during a country walk at this season. On one side, the apple, pear, plum, and cherry trees, are loaded with fragrant blossoms; on the other, the hawthorn rivals them in sweetness, whilst the ground is strewed with flowers of every variety of hue.

5. But all this scene of beauty and fertility is sometimes dreadfully ravaged by the blights, which peculiarly occur in this month. The mischief is done chiefly by innumerable swarms of very small insects, which are brought by the northeast winds. Hence May, though a glorious month to the lover of nature, is an anxious one to the farmer and the gardener.

LESSON 135.- Hints.

377. From the following Hints, which are given in regular succession, produce a Description, developed and expressed as nearly as possible in accordance with the rule:

378.-MONTH OF JUNE.

1. In June, pastures with clover in full flower, fill air perfume. 2. Clover favourite plant bees and honey-sipping insects; for quantity juice found tubes flowers.

3. Peas beans now in bloom. 4. Bean flower beautiful fragrant. 5. Jays, other birds, mischief garden and field peas and beans, and during day found amidst rows, pulling up

young plants; but mischief compensated by number insects destroy.

6. Honeysuckle, various wild roses make amends loss of hawthorn, which has already shed its flowers. 7. They cover hedgerows, and often connected by garlands of great bindweed with snow-white flowers of graceful briony and vetch.

8. In no other country world has summer charms than own, and in no other country so well seen. 9. With us the flowers unmixed with rank growth weeds, which hot climates mingle with flowers, if not hide them. 10. Neither any thing fear in seeking admiring own summer flower, as few injurious; and neither poisonous snake nor venomous insect to check curiosity delight.

11. There are some plants now in flower, though beautiful poisonous. 12. Children should aware of this, lest, tempted eat inviting berries, injured or killed. 13. These all termed Nightshade, although difference in appearance and effects. 14. First best known of these Woody Nightshade, or Bitter Sweet, shrubby plant grows plentifully moist hedges; has small dark purple star-shaped flower, with yellow centre, bears large clusters berries which ripe resemble red currants. 15. Another kind Deadly Nightshade, violent poison, happily more rarely found. 16. It is large plant with dark-green leaves, and dark purple bell-shaped flower, and produces black berry large as small cherry. 17. Third sort called Garden Nightshade, smaller plant with white flowers, bearing small black berry. 18. This as name implies, sometimes though imprudently admitted gardens, less hurtful than others.

19. Corn and Grass in flower in June. 20. Peculiarity of plants included in what botanists call family of grasses, have narrow pointed leaves, jointed stems, and head or ear as it is termed. 21. This ear either close set as wheat, or open hanging as oat. 22. These heads made up of great number small flowers, of which every one produces single seed, that as many grains as in ear of wheat or oats, many flowers have been in head.

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